Sindh govt sets 24-hour deadline for gas supply restoration

KARACHI: The Sindh government Thursday threatened to support the transporters and industrialists in their protest against the federal government if gas supply was not restored within 24 hours. Addressing a press conference here, the PPP leaders including Sindh Transport Minister Owais Qadir Shah, Murtaza Wahab and others accused the federal government of violating article 158 of the constitution by depriving Sindh, which is producing 70 per cent of gas, of its share in gas. Qadir Shah said that there would be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar against the federal government if the gas supply is not restored within 24 hours, as the provincial government will put its weight behind the industrialists and transporters in their protest against the federal government. Advisor to the chief minister on information, Murtaza Wahab, called the unawareness of gas crisis by Prime Minister Imran Khan, an admission of his failure. The minister said that the federal government maintains a discriminatory attitude towards Sindh. Wahab warned that the crisis can prompt law and order issue in the province, adding that the CNG station’s closure can increase unemployment. He said that the chief minister has also written a letter to the prime minister in this regard. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, in a statement issued from his office, demanded the immediate restoration of the gas supply and said that under the Article 158, people of Sindh have the first right over the gas as the province produces 70 percent of the energy in Pakistan. Shah said that the gas crisis has prompted a severe crisis as not only the domestic consumers are facing the burnt but the industries, power projects, CNG stations have also been closed due to the non-supply. He said that the electricity generation has also been adversely affected due to the halt in gas supply.